Beauty queen stripped of 2026 title over disturbing posts hits out

US beauty queen Brittany Boltinhouse has broken her silence after being stripped of her Miss North Carolina USA title, following allegations of racism in old social media posts.

Earlier this week, pageant organisers A Blaize Productions released a statement confirming that Boltinhouse had been removed from her position.

"The decision was not made lightly," the statement read. "It followed a thorough review of recently surfaced information and was based on the totality of the circumstances and our responsibility to preserve the integrity of the Miss North Carolina USA title and the values of our organisation."

The 27-year-old has now spoken publicly for the first time since the decision was made, accusing the organisation of removing the title over her identity as a 'conservative Christian woman'.

"I believe and think I was stripped from my title because of my political stance and my belief system as a conservative Christian woman," she told the Carolina Journal in a recent interview.

Brittany Boltinhouse has responded to the removal of her 'Miss North Carolina' title, claiming that her conservative views played a part (Instagram/@espino.sosa)

"I think and believe that my title was ripped from me because of my beliefs."

The Honduran-American revealed that she was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (also known as the Mormon or LDS Church) and holds 'conservative political and social values'.

Elaborating on her faith, she continued: "I’m proud of my standards. I’m a proud conservative woman, but a Christian woman. I’m a God-fearing woman

"I believe we believe that we are a nation under god, and that’s who I am and that’s who my parents taught me to be — is a person who loves this country because this country has given me opportunity, and opportunity to show my religious beliefs, and I am proud of that."

What has Brittany Boltinhouse been accused of?

A Blaize Productions has not specified the allegations which led to Boltinhouse's removal from her position, but said the decision came after careful consideration and consultation with the Miss USA Organisation.

Meanwhile, The NC Beat also published resurfaced tweets using racial slurs, all of which have been linked to Boltinhouse.

She was stripped of the title earlier this week (Instagram/@espino.sosa)

The tweets, penned under the name 'Sosa the Stallion', date between 2017 and 2019 and include multiple uses of the n-word.

Thom Brodeur, president and CEO of Miss USA, has also issued a statement, writing: "The Miss Teen USA organisation does not tolerate racism, homophobia, transphobia, nor language that strips any person of their dignity – whoever they are.

"This is not a policy written for a press release; it is the floor of what it means to represent this brand."

Brodeur also revealed that Boltinhouse had since apologised for her alleged comments, but said 'it does not change the outcome'.

"What was brought to us was not a single moment," he said. "It reflected conduct over an extended period of time. That is why this outcome was reached, and I stand behind it without qualification."

The organisation also confirmed that second-place candidate Myla Hadley will assume the crown and represent the state of North Carolina at the Miss USA pageant.